Sir, - Like Aideen Clifford, whose letter (April 16th) concerned devaluing literature, I too welcome John Boland's straight talking on the subject of "foisting upon us semi literate twaddle masquerading today as Irish writing" ("Bookworm" April 6th).
Aideen Clifford and I are not the only ones who feel that a book is a "must" - in fact, a natural follow on to notoriety achieved by fame or infamy, experience of incest, rape, manic depression, alcoholism, sexual abuse, crime, drug abuse; in short any sensationalism. Sense and sensibility are no longer fashionable.
When will other literary critics have either the integrity or gumption to break the current mould of The Emperor's New Clothes? In Ireland, we entered this century proud of our Celtic Twilight. Let us not exit with the embarrassed memory of a Celtic Nightmare. - Yours, etc.,
Ballyroan Road, Dublin 16.